West Memphis firefighter recruit dies during training exercise

A West Memphis firefighting recruit died during a training exercise Wednesday in Camden, Ark., officials said.

David Eason, 38, suffered a heart attack during the exercise at the Arkansas Fire Academy just before 4 p.m.

According to West Memphis Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim McNeely, Eason was doing an exercise designed to teach firefighters how to follow a hose out of a burning building if they get disoriented.

He was in a darkened basement wearing his firefighting gear, but there was no actual smoke or fire involved, McNeely said.

"He got quiet. They immediately turned the lights on. At that point, he had stopped breathing. They had a paramedic on scene, and he started working with them," McNeely said.

Eason was flown to a nearby hospital, but pronounced dead less than an hour later.

McNeely said Eason was in good shape and passed a physical exam to become a recruit.